On the cusp of trial, man pleads guilty in 2011 Watsonville rape

SANTA CRUZ -- A 32-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to eight sexual assault charges stemming from a 2011 rape just as his jury trial was about to begin.

Jury selection was already under way in the trial of Wayne Steven Maynor when he entered a plea with an agreed upon sentence of 65 years in state prison. He also admitted the special allegation of having used a knife in commission of the crimes.

Maynor was arrested after prosecutors say he entered a closed carpet store in Watsonville on July 3, 2011 where an employee was picking up cleaning supplies to take to her second job. The woman was held at knife point, then handcuffed and blindfolded, Watsonville police testified at Maynor's preliminary hearing. Maynor sexually assaulted her, then took her iPhone and her keys and fled in her car. The woman was left tied up inside the store.

Authorities said they used an iPhone application called MobileMe to track Maynor to a liquor store on East Lake Avenue, where he was arrested.

Maynor faced a sentence of 100 years if he had gone to trial and been convicted of all the charges against him.

Maynor's attorney, Jamyrson Pittori, said her client has wanted to settle the case for more than a year.

"Mr. Maynor's change of plea was an act of remorse, responsibility and decency," Pittori said. "He did not wish to put the victim through any more harm."

Prosecutor Rafael Vazquez said he was pleased that Maynor will be spending the next 65 years of his life in prison.

"This resolution spares the victim of the experience of testifying about an incredibly traumatic event that continues to haunt her to this very day and it guarantees that he will not victimize another member of our community again," Vazquez said.

Vazquez met with the victim and her family after Maynor pleaded, and said they were all grateful she would not have to testify and will be able to now work toward moving on with her life. She has a large support circle to help her through, he said.

Judge John Salazar dismissed the prospective jurors who appeared for court Monday morning following Maynor's plea.